Prepare your heart:

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God appears to Solomon and explains that if His people are going through a hard time, they should seek Him and follow His ways. Then, He will hear their prayers and heal them.

Be willing to hear what God says needs to change and be willing to change. Don’t continue to sin. What are the paths He wants you to walk? How much does He want you to pray and read His Word? Tell God that you surrender your life to Him and that you want more of Him and His way.

Prepare your motives:

Ephesians 1:3 says that there are spiritual blessings assigned to us. We can never exhaust them! Who knows what God wants to give you or show you? Maybe He wants to bestow gifts such as wisdom, anointing, prayer power, healing power, teaching power, joy, or encouragement. When you eliminate things that are keeping you from focusing on God, He is able to show you things about your life that you never knew.

Prepare your body:

If you decide to eat only fruits and vegetables for your fast, it will result in cleansing of your physical body. You may feel sick as your body detoxes, but you’ll make it! This isn’t a mind game to see if you can survive eating less or not watching ESPN, but about experiencing God. Some people ask, “What does not eating have to do with my relationship with God?” It has been said, “Stop eating and find out.”

Prepare your schedule:

Decide where you will meet with God, what and when you will eat, and how you will spend your time differently. Re- member, the fast is about communing with God, so don’t fill your time with distractions that will keep you from feeling hungry. Create a plan and commit to spending more time with the Lord.

Fasting Guidelines:

• Explain to your family in advance what you are doing.
• Request privacy from those find out what you are doing.
• Ask them not to discuss it with you until your fast is over.
• Never complain or brag about your fast and avoid talking about it. • Establish an accountability partner for prayer & encouragement.
• Stay away from negative people.
• Spend as much time as possible alone in solitude and prayer.
• Acknowledge that your flesh cannot be trained but must be crucified.
• Journal as you pray and meet with the Lord. Write down the miracles God does in your life!